High capacity, ultra-fast charge/discharge rate, and long cycling life are external targets for Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) to satisfy modern energy storage, but it is still challenging to realize them simultaneously. Here, we report a three-dimensional (3D) porous rGO@SnO₂ nanosheets aerogel (rGO@SnO₂ NSA) based on in-situ growing two-dimensional (2D) SnO₂ nanosheets on graphene oxide (GO@SnO₂ NS), subsequent controllable assembly and reduction. The 2D structure of SnO₂ can shorten the electron-transfer path, and the porous architecture of the 3D aerogel endows the aerogels with external ion-transfer channels and exceptional capacitive contribution. As a result, the LIBs using our 3D aerogels as anodes can endure ultrafast charge/discharge (10 A g⁻¹) rate and exhibit ultra-long cycling life with a high energy density (512.1 mAh g⁻¹ after 10,000 cycles). For application exploration, the LiFePO₄/rGO@SnO₂ NSA cell also possesses excellent energy storage performance (364.5 mAh g⁻¹ after 100 cycles). Our electrode design strategy of combining 2D active materials and 3D porous architecture provides a new path to develop next-generation rechargeable energy storage devices.

Hewei Zhao, Xiaolong Zeng, Tian Zheng, Shaojia Liu, Jie Yang, Rui Hao, Fengshi Li, Lin Guo*. Three-dimensional porous aerogel assembly from ultrathin rGO@SnO₂ nanosheets for advanced lithium-ion batteries. Composites Part B: Engineering. 2022, 231, 109591.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2021.109591